Bellamy must miss out as Blackburn accuse Wales

By John Ley

12:01AM BST 20 Aug 2005

Wales become embroiled in another club versus country confrontation yesterday when Blackburn insisted that striker Craig Bellamy would not be available for the World Cup qualifiers against England and Poland next month.

Mark Hughes, Blackburn's former Wales manager, was unhappy that Bellamy returned from international training with an injury that could leave him out of action for up to six weeks.

Bellamy was named in Wales' 25-man squad but was withdrawn by Blackburn for the games in Cardiff on Sept 3 and in Warsaw four days later.

Hughes criticised the Football Association of Wales for not informing him of Bellamy's thigh injury, although national team doctor Mark Ridgewell has since refuted that accusation.

He said: "I had two conversations with Blackburn's doctor Phil Batty. We had a reasonable chat about Craig's situation and the scans needed for him."

John Toshack, the Wales manager, said: "It's a blow for us, and for the player who had just recovered from an ankle injury.

"He trained for two days with a lot of enthusiasm, maybe too much enthusiasm. He was very, very keen to put the ankle trouble behind him and he'll be devastated that he won't be involved against England."

Toshack has also included Ryan Giggs, missing against Slovenia with a chest infection, and though Ben Thatcher is banned for the England game he is eligible to face Poland. But as expected there is still no place for Robbie Savage, who announced his international retirement last season then expressed a desire to return to the Wales squad.

England will play Argentina in a friendly on Nov 12 if they have already qualified for the World Cup.

Argentina have secured their path to the 2006 finals in Germany and England will book their place if they finish top of Group Six.

If England end up second they will have to qualify via a two-legged play-off and the Argentina game will be called off.